2015 Ford Transit 2.2L Diesel · LV65 AAJ

A developing concern around the front-end drivetrain and steering is the defining mechanical story of this 2015 Ford Transit. The December 2025 test returned a Pass, but it carried an advisory for thinning front brake pads and another marking play in the nearside front steering rack inner joint, the same steering defect that was flagged in December 2024. That steering rack advisory has now appeared on three consecutive annual tests, indicating a component that is progressively deteriorating rather than a one-off observation. The picture is compounded by the December 2024 failure, which was caused by split constant velocity boots on both front outer drive shaft joints, defects serious enough to prevent a pass that day and suggestive of either prolonged neglect of the gaiters or aggressive use over kerbs and potholes. While the vehicle has cleared its last two tests, the recurrence of the steering rack advisory means the front steering and axle components warrant close physical inspection before purchase. With 84,755 miles recorded over roughly eleven years of life, the Transit is averaging approximately 7,700 miles per year, a rate broadly consistent with light commercial or private multi-purpose use rather than the high annual mileages typical of fleet operation. The MOT history is continuous from 2022 onwards, with no recorded lay-up gaps, so the mileage figure can be treated as a reasonably reliable representation of actual use. At this level of wear, consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and suspension bushes should be expected to have undergone at least one replacement cycle, and the front drivetrain components now showing distress are entirely consistent with a vehicle that has seen regular but moderate mileage rather than extreme abuse. No odometer inconsistencies or unusual gaps in testing have been recorded. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is a focused inspection of the front steering and drivetrain. With play already noted in the nearside front steering rack inner joint, the vehicle should be test driven over uneven surfaces and during full-lock manoeuvres to listen for clonking or knocking from the front end, and the steering should be checked at low speed for any vagueness, rattle, or self-centring issue, as a worn rack inner joint typically manifests as a discernible slack before becoming a failure item. The CV joints should be examined for fresh grease around the boots and any clicking on full lock, since split gaiters were recorded on both sides in 2024 and replacement quality varies. Brake pedal feel should be assessed for sponginess or judder, and a visual check of the front discs for lipping and pad material thickness is worthwhile given the recent advisory. The remaining advisories are relatively minor but still worth addressing during a pre-purchase evaluation. The 2022 advisory noted perished rubber on the nearside rear tyre, which is typical ageing rather than an immediate concern but worth confirming that the sidewalls are still free of significant cracking on the current set. With 7,700 miles per year of typical use, the rear tyres and brakes will have seen less stress than the front items, so the bulk of remaining wear risk is concentrated at the nose of the vehicle. A thorough inspection underneath on a ramp is strongly advised to confirm the condition of the steering rack gaiters, drop links, anti-roll bar bushes, and front subframe mounting points, as these are common Transit weak spots that would not necessarily be visible from a standard road test alone.